New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-10
T.. L. HARPER IN HIS OWN DEFENCE.


PLEADING TOTAL INNOCENCE OF THE WHOLE DEAL
AN UNGUARDED WORD sPOILs A sKILfUL
STATEMENT.
CINCINNATI, Dec. 9-ThiS proved to be the great
day in the trial Of f. L. Harper. The prisoner was
called to the stand by hs counsel to testify In his own
behalf His manner tho stand showed what a
dicult man he has been for his attorneys TO manage
he took the jury into his confidence and talked TO then"
with the purpose Of convincing them but all the time
was ransgresslng the rules Of evidence as explained
TO him time and again by Judge Jackson. lie argued
his he went along until Judge JaclsOn's re-
Dukes began to bear the tones of lmpafIcncc. lie
testified dozen times to occurrences which he did not
witness, but Of which somebody had told him. Re
fore he took the oath. Judge Jackson asked DID
you request to bc placed on the witness -standl'
"Ycs, sir" the
The oath then administered. and in answer to
questions by Mr. Blackburn tho witness said he now
resided in the county jail, and told Of his previous
business career. In answer TO direct questions nom
Mr.. blackburn, Mr. Harper stated that he never gave
order of any kind to Mr.. Eckcrt TO buy grain for
him in Chicago. and he equally sweeping ana cN-
plict in saying that he never authorized Mr. Wiltshire
to buy grain for him I'm Chicago or elsewhere.
II seemed like presumption after this sweeping de-
NAL for his counsel to hand him three notes, bearing
the initials O. H., f. l.. H., and ask him to explain
them. Harper said that when wiltshire I'm March stlil
owed the bank and him those large sums he insisted
his selling out his wheat deal 10 pay his debS
Wiltshire said to do safely he should buy some that
day keep up the market and chen he could sell out
to advantage the next day
." IIo asked my advlcc,s said Harper, " and gave
IT, l said 10 him. Mako ont your order TO buy June
wheat and II IFS all right I'll O. h it, Mr. Wiltshire
sent 10 the bank this note that he was going to buy
that day 1eO 900 Of wheat, and q. K.'d H. II was
no act or account Of mine. The books OF IN" ha"h
will show ! think. that he paid the bank consider
able amount Of money the next day. had no pur-
pose whatever in this transaction except to fc' inc
money for the bank that owing 10 II hy NH,hf'.
The second note was in cipher. and Harper 'aid
related TO the same sort Of transaction. Tho third
note he explained hy saying that Wiltshire told hm he
had TO pay for a lot Of wheat on May !.
L" He wanted me" said he. to furnish money for
this purpose refused. He said would be sorry
advised him to sell May wheat and buy June and
nav the difference. He asked me To write mem
orandum Of telegram 10 that effect. saving Please
change that May wheat haze not provided for TO June
and July. My principal has decided etc. Mr i..,. ~.
shire rcprcscntcd 10 me that be was buying lafectF
for Cleveland PARTIES. ard that s what J suppose h'
referred io in the words Ny principal
the manner fin which 5000 600 sent to Chicago 70
save the deal and hc about 10 leave IN" stand
DO with Mr. Uoplinss wheat dcals through Hrokcr
IIoyt ile answered that he paid llophn's drafts
but he dld II to protect the bank
! was Interested through Hopkins 10 that cNi"ni
We would first protect The Interests Of ihc bank and
after that was DOM II th"rc wa any roii irh II was
to be divided between Hopkins and myself
\ sensation ran through the court room ~ th"sc
words uttered Mr. Blackburn TO break 'he force
of the admission. asked: Did yon at any I'm" have
any I'm all these transactions to dcfraud tho bank
anybody else ?"
Tic cros.-cN animation wa hricf and pointed u
brought ont tho single fact tha, he pnr1as'd ccriln
charged TO his account.